The Lava Dimension is one of the six dimensions that Kaguya can connect to.

The ground in this space is covered in magma. Only by floating in the air can one avoid being harmed!

At this moment, within the dimension, Orochimaru and Kaguya hovered above the magma. The others were also suspended mid-air.

"Mother, Orochimaru's power is indeed unique. We don't need to fight him at all..."

Black Zetsu, who had merged into Kaguya's sleeve, couldn't help but voice his concern.

He had been observing the battle between the two.

Kaguya's power was undeniably overwhelming, but Orochimaru's abilities should not be underestimated.

If they insisted on eliminating Orochimaru by force, the best possible outcome would be mutual destruction.

Most importantly, Orochimaru seemed to have never even used his full strength.

This unsettling realization made Black Zetsu uneasy.

He was truly afraid that Kaguya would end up sealed away again as soon as she had been revived.

Hearing Black Zetsu's words, Kaguya remained expressionless as she looked at Orochimaru indifferently.

"You're wrong, Black Zetsu. The stronger his power, the more reason I have to take his chakra!"

After saying this, Kaguya slowly raised her hands, veins bulging on her forehead.

Two gray bones emerged from her palms, one aimed at Orochimaru and the other at Mikoto.

"Orochimaru, let your bones rot along with mine!"

Whoosh!

The two gray bones shot toward them.

"It's useless!"

Orochimaru remained calm. While spinning the Truth-Seeking Orb before him, he glanced toward Uchiha Mikoto.

Poof!

One of the bones pierced through the black shield, while the other bone vanished.

"As expected!" Black Zetsu observed the aftermath, his hoarse voice sounding grim. "Mother's bones may be powerful, but they can be blocked by sacrificing a Truth-Seeking Orb!"

"And the other bone must have been transferred to another dimension by him!"

"Judging from the previous battle and these two attacks, long-range attacks seem ineffective against him!"

Black Zetsu was trying his best to act as a strategist, analyzing Orochimaru's abilities to assist Kaguya.

Orochimaru looked at the shattered Truth-Seeking Orb before him and frowned.

"Even the Truth-Seeking Orb can be corroded... What terrifying power."

"But as long as she fails to hit, it's nothing to be concerned about. Kaguya, you really can't defeat me, why must you be so stubborn?"

"Shut up!" Kaguya said coldly. "I will reunify all chakra!"

Buzz!

Kaguya's aura surged, her long hair flowing wildly like a waterfall.

A dark rift suddenly appeared beside her!

She reached her hand into the spatial tear!

Orochimaru's eyes narrowed. In the next second, his figure appeared behind Nonō.

Almost simultaneously, a black spatial rift opened in front of Orochimaru, and Kaguya's hand emerged from within, right at his location!

Boom!

Two immense bursts of chakra erupted at the same time!

The powerful shockwave carried an overwhelming force, sending Tsunade and Nonō flying!

"Damn it..."

Gritting her teeth, Nonō grabbed Tsunade and tried to stabilize herself with the wings formed from her Magnet Release.

But the shockwave was too strong. The wings created by her Magnet Release couldn't hold steady at all.

"Mikoto, catch them!" Orochimaru ordered without looking back.

"Understood!"

In fact, Orochimaru didn't even need to say anything, Mikoto had already taken action.

She tossed Jiraiya onto Susanoo's shoulder and reached out to grab Tsunade and Nonō.

The shockwave gradually dissipated. Kaguya retracted her hand, and Orochimaru also flew back slightly.

"Can he predict Mother's attack?" Black Zetsu was taken aback.

It was said to be the most primitive form of space-time power, a technique akin to Kamui but requiring no hand seals to activate. It allowed instantaneous travel between dimensions or locations within the same space. It could be used for evasion, disruption, and ambushes.

Orochimaru's strength was undeniable. Black Zetsu was well aware of that but the fact that he could predict it was truly unbelievable!

This technique required no signs or seals. It simply opened a crack behind the target, allowing an attack to be launched directly.

It was an ability with no warning and, theoretically, no way to predict it.

So how had Orochimaru anticipated it?

"Orochimaru, this guy..."

Jiraiya, shielding himself from the residual shockwave, was stunned.

Just one palm strike was this powerful?

Kaguya was understandable—she was the progenitor of chakra, after all!

But Orochimaru...?

Could scientific research truly make someone this strong?

"Rotting bones, space-time manipulation... Haha, this is absurdly powerful!" Orochimaru grinned. "But let's put an end to this!"

"What?"

As soon as the words fell—whoosh!

Orochimaru used the Flying Thunder God Technique to suddenly appear before Kaguya.

Kaguya seemed to sense the danger and immediately attempted to counterattack with her gray bones.

But in that instant, she realized.

Her body... wouldn't move?!

Impossible!

Before she could react, Orochimaru made a move that shocked everyone!

As he closed the distance, he took advantage of Kaguya's immobility.

Lifting her chin, he leaned in and pressed his lips against hers.

At that moment, the entire battlefield fell into silence!

Kaguya's eyes widened in disbelief.

What was this man doing?!

"This... This is..."

"This idiot... At a time like this... What the hell is he thinking?"

"Is he insane? Does he really dare to pull something like this... on the progenitor of chakra?!"

Countless thoughts raced through the minds of Tsunade and the others.

Before they could question Orochimaru, they saw the two of them separate.

And in Orochimaru's mouth... was a strand of chakra, one end still connected to Kaguya's lips!

"This is...?"

"Stripping away the chakra that influences her mind... That should allow her to return to normal, right?"

Orochimaru bit down on the chakra strand, a faint smile on his lips.

While speaking, he layered his hand with chakra and reached out, pulling more of the chakra from Kaguya's mouth.

At that moment, the surrounding space returned to normal. But Kaguya still felt as if her entire body was restrained, unable to move.

"Why... Why... can you control me?"

"Because my power comes from science!"

(To be continued.)

T/N: Ngl, this chapter made me cringe hard, but hey.